(no subject)
Nov. 8th, 2005 09:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
listersgirlHappy birthday ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
yagowe!
***
So George is back, and I am happy. Also, I love Jack Layton.
I'm definitely watching to see what happens with this potential vote of non-confidence. I really doubt that anyone wants to force a Christmas election*, but George is right: this is the chance that the Conservatives and the NDP have both been talking about forever. If they don't use this chance to vote non-confidence in the Liberals, they're going to look very silly.
The thing is, I can see why the NDP, despite everything they've said, might not want to take down the government. They are actually in the best position they could possibly be, other than leading a majority government themselves (which, despite gains in seats and recognition, I don't think is a possibility yet). Martin needs them, desperately, in order to get anything done. As the swing vote, they're managing to dictate policy. Look at what just happened with the health care bill: Layton basically said, give us what we want on that bill and we'll support you, otherwise we're siding with the bad guys over there.
So now it just remains to be seen what Martin and the others will do. The Conservatives have the first opposition day next week, but I don't think they're likely to call for a confidence vote unless they're sure the NDP aren't backing the Liberals, despite the fact that they (and all the other opposition parties) have been saying that they're ready ever since the last election. I guess we'll see!
*There were people handing out pamphlets by the subway station this morning. I'm pretty sure they were for the Conservative candidate in my riding. I thought they weren't allowed to campaign until an election was called?
(ps. Who wants to go to a taping of the Rick Mercer Report with me? Tickets are available for these shows. We should pick one and get a group of people together.)
yagowe!***
So George is back, and I am happy. Also, I love Jack Layton.
I'm definitely watching to see what happens with this potential vote of non-confidence. I really doubt that anyone wants to force a Christmas election*, but George is right: this is the chance that the Conservatives and the NDP have both been talking about forever. If they don't use this chance to vote non-confidence in the Liberals, they're going to look very silly.
The thing is, I can see why the NDP, despite everything they've said, might not want to take down the government. They are actually in the best position they could possibly be, other than leading a majority government themselves (which, despite gains in seats and recognition, I don't think is a possibility yet). Martin needs them, desperately, in order to get anything done. As the swing vote, they're managing to dictate policy. Look at what just happened with the health care bill: Layton basically said, give us what we want on that bill and we'll support you, otherwise we're siding with the bad guys over there.
So now it just remains to be seen what Martin and the others will do. The Conservatives have the first opposition day next week, but I don't think they're likely to call for a confidence vote unless they're sure the NDP aren't backing the Liberals, despite the fact that they (and all the other opposition parties) have been saying that they're ready ever since the last election. I guess we'll see!
*There were people handing out pamphlets by the subway station this morning. I'm pretty sure they were for the Conservative candidate in my riding. I thought they weren't allowed to campaign until an election was called?
(ps. Who wants to go to a taping of the Rick Mercer Report with me? Tickets are available for these shows. We should pick one and get a group of people together.)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 04:21 pm (UTC)Also, URG, not another election! I hate elections.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 04:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-08 04:34 pm (UTC)